A journey of the mind afloat in space and time. An emotion capture. Arresting images and some great poems and lyrics.

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Tag Archives: National Maternity Hospital

21 years ago on this day Jerry was born in Holles Street Hospital at lunchtime.

That morning I asked Louise if I should go to work or not. We went for a short walk up the road and back and then she told me to go ahead into work. So off I went. In the office I got a phone call asking if I would donate blood that day. I rang home at about 10:30 and asked Louise how she was. She said nothing was happening (liar). So I agreed to go to Pelican House to donate.

I was just about finished with the donation when a call came in from the office telling me that Louise needed me straight away. So they strapped up my arm, called me a plonker and threw me into a taxi home.

I was preparing for the long haul. You’ve all seen it on TV. Hours pacing the corridors as nothing happens. So I made some sandwiches to take with me. There was the remains of a half leg of lamb which makes some great sandwiches, especially if you have a nice chutney.

Then into the car and off to the hospital. We parked up the car and walked over to registration. Louise told the receptionist that she was going to have the baby straight away. The eye rolling from the receptionist was clearly a practiced move born of many such situations. Louise couldn’t walk any more, so I got a wheelchair to take her to the delivery ward.

They told me to go t o the waiting room and that I would be there for some considerable time. I was so glad that I brought the book I was reading. Unfortunately I never got to read the book, or eat the sandwiches. Jerry was born about 40 minutes after we reached the hospital.

Once Louise and Jerry were settled I nipped home in the car to make some calls (pre-mobile phone days) and feed the dog etc. In the car this song came on, and I cried. Still do.

I am recording these figures, because I know that when the projects are finished they will cost multiples of the nonsense trotted out to a gullible public and unquestioning journalists.

Simon Harris, minister for health in the Fine Gael led minority government tells us that the National Children’s Hospital in St James’s will cost €1 Billion to build. He also tells us that the National Maternity Hospital at St Vincent’s will cost €300 million.

I would love to know who is the official responsible for publishing these figures, and who are the project managers who are charged with bringing these projects in, on time, and on budget? In the absence of these names I hold Simon Harris accountable.